The Running Man (1987): cast, story & where to watch
1987 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1987, The Running Man is an action, thriller and science fiction film directed by Paul Michael Glaser, running about 101 minutes. “2019. A game nobody survives. This year might be the exception.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and U.S. society has become a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity. The government pacifies the populace by broadcasting a number of game shows in which convicted criminals fight for their lives, including the gladiator-style The Running Man, hosted by the ruthless Damon Killian, where “runners” attempt to evade “stalkers” and certain death for a chance to be pardoned and set free.
Who’s in it. The Running Man stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards, María Conchita Alonso as Amber Mendez, Yaphet Kotto as William Laughlin and Jim Brown as Fireball, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, The Running Man has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $38.1M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential and Philo and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Running Man page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Running Man tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Running Man (1987)?
- In US, The Running Man is available to stream on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium and Paramount Plus Essential, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Running Man worth watching?
- The Running Man holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Running Man?
- The Running Man stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, María Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, Jim Brown and Jesse Ventura.
- When was The Running Man released?
- The Running Man was released in 1987, with a runtime of about 101 minutes.